angelica-angelica archangelica -HOTW-1

[dilligaf]

other names
Alexanders, American Dong Qui, Archangel, Purple-stem Angelica, American Angelica, High Angelica, Wild Archangel, Wild Angelica, Masterwort ,Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica; Archangelica officinalis alternative English names are Holy Ghost, Wild Celery, and Norwegian angelica

folklore
According to one legend, (European-angelica) Angelica was revealed in a dream by an angel to cure the plague (hence the name Angelica or Archangel). All parts of the plant were believed effective against evil spirits and witchcraft. It was held in such esteem that it was called 'The Root of the Holy Ghost.' In America it was used by the Iroquois and other tribes as Witchcraft Medicine, an infusion of smashed roots was used as wash to remove ghosts from the house.

[The Kraken]

Supposedly, if you burn the leaves in a home, the residents are supposed to have a joyful outlook.

[viggie]

According to The Complete Book of Herbs you should harvest leaves before the plant flowers and dry them. Dried leaves can be stewed with acidic fruits to reduce the amount of sugar needed to sweeten. They can be added to water for a relaxing bath. It makes a good addition to potpourri. It can also be used in tea as a tonic for colds and gas relief. The smell of crushed leaves helps prevent travel sickness.

[dilligaf]

Angelica is a tall, stout very ornamental and aromatic plant with large white flowers, growing to a height of 4 to 6 feet or more. It is a biennial or short lived perennial herb native to Eastern N. America from Newfoundland to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Delaware, Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee. It is found in rich thickets, bottomlands, moist cool woodlands, stream banks and shady roadsides. It has a smooth, dark purple, hollow stem 1 to 2 inches round. The leaves are dark green, divided into three parts, each of which is again divided into three serrated leaflets, sometimes lobed. The lower leaves are larger sometimes 2 feet wide. Angelica leaves have flattened, inward curved, stalks with clasping bases or sheathing to form an elongated bowl which holds water. The root is branched, from 3 to 6 inches long, thick and fleshy with several small rootlets. Flowers are small and numerous, yellowish or greenish-white and grouped into large, compound umbels. The flowers bloom in July and are succeeded by pale yellow, oblong fruits, 1/6 to a 1/4 inch in length when ripe produced in somewhat rounds heads, which sometimes are 8 to 10 inches in diameter.

NOTE The fresh root of Angelica is not edible, said to be poisonous. Do not use while pregnant or breastfeeding without consulting your doctor.

The young shoots are edible in salad or boiled as a pot herb. It has a sweet taste similar to celery. Angelica stems are often preserved with sugar for a sweet edible treat.

Harvest Angelica stems when young and tender. Root must be carefully dried and preserved for later herb use.

"Medicinal" herb tea: To 1 tsp. dried Angelica root add 1 cup boiling water steep 15 to 20 min. take throughout the day and at bedtime.

[dilligaf]

Candied angelica stems

Cut angelica stalks in their second year. Unlike many other plants, the big stalks are actually better than the small, so long as they're still green (and not purple or white). Deleaf, remove leaf stalks, and cut into pieces of about 6 inches. Soak these pieces in cold water for about 8 hours or so.

Boil water and plunge the stalks into it. Boil them until they begin to soften. (I usually add about a half teaspoon of baking soda per gallon of water, to get that virid green color that is associated with the "real" candied angelica you get in France. It also helps to soften the stems. Some people object to this procedure, so do what you like or what works best--if you've got really tough stems, you'd best do what you can!)

Cool under cold running water, drain, and peel them, like celery, removing the long stringy parts on the outside of the stalks.

Put into a syrup of 1 cup sugar:1 cup water, soak for 24 hours.

Drain. Cook the syrup to 225 F, pour it over the angelica.

Repeat once a day for three days. On the fourth day, cook the syrup to 245 (small pearl). Put the angelica into the pot, bring it to the boil several times (you want the angelica to look translucent, without losing its shape).

Remove the pot from the fire, let it stand til cool, and then remove the angelica. Drain the angelica on racks (or screens).

This part if you want to keep them for a long time: When they're dry, coat them with superfine sugar and dry them in a 170 F oven. Put them in glass jars or in tins.

[dilligaf]

Be careful not to confuse this herb with Angelica pachycarpa, which is a purely ornamental plant with no medicinal or culinary value. A. archangelica has bright green basal leaves which divide into oval leaflets. A. pachycarpa has crinkled, shiny, dark green leaves. Angelica is a perennial that flowers every two years.

Cultivation

Start from seeds directly sown or begin seeds indoors. Seeds should be sown as soon as possible after removing them from the plant. If they must be stored, seal them in a plastic container, and store the container in the refrigerator.

Plant angelica in the coolest part of the garden. The soil should be deep, rich, moist and slightly acid. Soggy soil will cause the plants to die back. Transplant seedlings when they have four to six leaves. They have long taproots, so don't delay transplanting too long.

Once the plant flowers, it will not come back the next year. You can cut the flowering stem the first two or three years, but the fourth year will probably be it's last, so let it flower.

Culinary Uses
Chopped leaves may be added to fruit salads, fish dishes and cottage cheese in small amounts.
Add leaves to sour fruit such as rhubarb to neutralize acidity.
Boil the stems with jams to improve the flavor. Remove the stems before canning or freezing.
Young stems can be used as a substitute for celery.

Medicinal Uses
Angelica tea is a stimulating tonic. Use it when an illness has left you feeling weak.
Use Angelica to ease the digestive tract. It eases colic, flatulence, and spasms.
It is useful in treating anorexia nervosa, cystitis and bronchitis.
Angelica helps to regulate menstruation while easing menstrual pain.
Angelica should not be used medicinally during pregnancy.
Avoid excessive sun after using angelica oil.
http://www.gardenguides.com/440-angelic ... elica.html